The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for HIT www.healthit.gov released Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (NAP-AX-16-003) on March 1, 2016 with approximately $275,000 available. The objective is to help develop an app discovery site that will make it easier for developers to publish their apps, be able to discover and compare them, and then integrate the apps into EHRs.
Providers report difficulty in finding the information needed to make an informed choice before embarking on a resource intensive process of app integration. Third party app developers report that there is little transparency regarding terms of use, fees, and the resources needed to connect with different EHR systems.
This lack of transparency can stifle innovation and inhibit both providers and their-party app developers from exploring better ways of presenting healthcare data at the point-of-care. The market has taken the lead in developing the Health Level 7 “Fast healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard.
Now it will be possible with the use of open, standardized APIs, to find more information on FHIR enabled apps to help providers learn what innovative apps are available to help make informed choices.
The goal is to develop an online resource that would host information on FHIR enabled apps. Some of the information that could be included could be related to system compatibility, app functionality, policies and terms of use, level of necessary integration resources, fee information and user reviews or ratings.
The awardee by doing market research will determine the best way to build the online resource. The awardee will be required to provide information on the different types of de-identified data that is structured when applicable and appropriate.
The awardee must also provide a financial sustainability plan projecting three-years beyond the end of the cooperative agreement that details how they intend to make the online resources, innovation sandbox, and market research report available to the general public even after the period of performance ends.
The FOA titled “Discovery Infrastructure for Clinical Health IT Apps Cooperative Agreement” is due April 30, 2016. For more information, go to www.grants.gov.